News

One Piece: Episode of Skypiea Special to Simulcast on AnimeLab, Crunchyroll, Funimation (Update)

Toei Animation announced on its English-language Facebook account on Wednesday that the One Piece: Episode of Skypiea (One Piece: Episode of Sorajima) special will be available as a simulcast on Funimation, Crunchyroll, and AnimeLab following its Japanese broadcast premiere on August 25. Streaming will be available in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The special will air in Japan on August 25 on Fuji TV from 9:00 p.m. to 11:10 p.m.

Kōnosuke Uda is the special's chief director, while Tetsuya Endō (Saiyuki Reload) is directing the special. Tomohiro Nakayama is penning the script. Masayuki Satō (One Piece Film Gold, One Piece Film Z) is designing the characters. Yūsuke Isouchi is the chief animation director, and Yoshito Watanabe (One Piece Episode of East Blue: Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibōken) is the art director.

The special will be the first in the "Episode of" series to cover the Skypeia arc, and will feature a character who did not appear in the original Skypeia arc from the anime.

One Piece has had previous "Episode of" specials, such as: One Piece Episode of Nami: Kōkaishi no Namida to Nakama no Kizuna (2012), One Piece Episode of Luffy: Hand Island no Bōken (2012), One Piece Episode of Merry: Mō Hitori no Nakama no Monogatari (2013), One Piece "3D2Y" Ace no Shi wo Koete! Luffy Nakama to no Chikai (2014), One Piece Episode of Sabo (2015), and One Piece Episode of East Blue: Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibōken (2017).

Crunchyroll and Funimation streamed "3D2Y," "Episode of Sabo," and "Episode of East Blue" as simulcasts.

Thanks to Rukiia for the news tip.

Source: Toei Animation's Facebook account

Update: Funimation announced that it will stream the special on August 26.